Recall 16V361 affects 62,940 2003-2004 Subaru Outback, Baja, and Legacy vehicles for air bag rupture. Repair will be free at any franchised Subaru dealer once available.
Subaru is recalling 62,940 2003-2004 Outback, Baja, and Legacy vehicles from Zone C states because passenger frontal air bag inflators can rupture after long-term humidity and temperature cycling. The rupture can send metal fragments into occupants, causing serious injury or death, and the Subaru dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in the 2003-2004 Subaru Outback, Baja, and Legacy is the metal canister inside the passenger air bag module. In a crash that calls for the front air bags, the inflator burns propellant to create gas and fill the bag quickly. That controlled burst is supposed to inflate the bag without breaking the inflator body.
These recalled vehicles use certain Takata non-desiccated frontal inflators, including original and replacement passenger air bag modules. Non-desiccated means the inflator does not contain a drying agent to help control moisture inside the unit. After long exposure to humidity and temperature cycling, the propellant wafers can degrade. When the air bag deploys, degraded propellant can burn too aggressively, creating excessive pressure inside the inflator and causing the inflator body to rupture.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is inside the passenger air bag inflator, so an owner is not expected to hear, feel, or see a symptom before a crash deployment.
Who's affected?
Outback, Baja, and Legacy share the same passenger-side front air bag inflator scope across the 2003 and 2004 model years.
| 2003 Subaru Outback | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2004 Subaru Outback | front air bag |
| 2003 Subaru Baja | front air bag |
| 2004 Subaru Baja | front air bag |
| 2003 Subaru Legacy | front air bag |
| 2004 Subaru Legacy | front air bag |
| Units affected | 62,940 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
An inflator rupture can send metal fragments into vehicle occupants, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before the inflator fails, so confirm your VIN and follow Subaru's repair instructions if included. Repair will be free at any franchised Subaru dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2003-2004 Subaru Outback, Baja, or Legacy is included in this recall.
- Wait for Subaru's owner notification before scheduling the repair, or call Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500 to ask about your VIN.
- Reference recall number 16V361 and Subaru recall TKC-16 when you call Subaru or a franchised Subaru dealer.
- Ask about the free passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement that addresses the rupture hazard during air bag deployment.
- Limit front passenger use until Subaru confirms the repair path for your VIN.
What happens at the repair
Subaru's final dealer repair is to replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator. Once the repair is available, a Subaru technician will remove the affected passenger inflator and install the replacement part, free under the recall. Parts and labor are covered. Subaru lists a general reimbursement plan for this campaign, so if you already paid for a related passenger air bag inflator repair, keep the repair order and payment records and ask Subaru customer service or the dealer service desk how to submit documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 25, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 24, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V361?
Recall 16V361 covers 62,940 2003-2004 Subaru Outback, Baja, and Legacy vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can rupture during a crash deployment. Metal fragments can strike occupants, causing serious injury or death. Subaru dealers replace the inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2003-2004 Subaru Outback, Baja, or Legacy is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V361. If it is, contact a franchised Subaru dealer and ask for the passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 16V361 or Subaru recall TKC-16 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Subaru's remedy says dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator free of charge at any franchised Subaru dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is an inflator rupture during a crash that requires front air bag deployment. If the inflator ruptures, metal fragments can strike people inside the vehicle and cause serious injury or death. The repair path is to replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator for free.
What if I bought my Subaru used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the original owner. Because this recall covers certain vehicles originally sold or ever registered in Zone C states, check your VIN before assuming your Subaru is included or excluded.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V361000 |
|---|---|
| Subaru customer service | 1-856-488-8500 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V361 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V361000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →